NICOSIA -Law Commissioner Leda Koursoumba last week travelled to Geneva where she presented the Combined Sixth and Seventh Periodic Cyprus Reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW.

According to a press release issued Tuesday, Law Commissioner said that Cyprus has developed a number of national action plans and strategies that address gender equality or incorporate gender mainstreaming. These include the National Action Plan on employment of 2004, on trafficking in human beings of 2005 and 2010, on gender equality of 2007 and on social protection and social inclusion in 2008.

Koursoumba noted that major developments in the area of combating violence against women included the enactment in 2004 of a new Law on Violence in the Family, the development of the first National Action Plan for the Prevention and Handling of Family Violence 2010-2013, systematic training of professionals working in the field and the strengthening of the Police Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Office.

Committee Experts praised Cyprus on the great number of equality bodies and mechanisms addressing women’s issues. Further, they enquired about financial resources allocated for the implementation of the National Action Plan to combat violence in the family and raised issues on the use of temporary special measures to accelerate the improvement of the status of women, especially their participation in the political sphere and in the labour market; anti-trafficking measures; victim protection measures in the areas of trafficking for purposes of labour and sexual exploitation.

In her concluding remarks, Law Commissioner said that the process before the Committee had provided the opportunity to reflect on what is being done and what the impact is on safeguarding women’s rights in Cyprus. Committee Chairperson Nicole Ameline, congratulated Cyprus on the measures taken to eliminate discrimination against women, and, particularly, Law Commissioner for the constructive dialogue that had taken place.

She stressed that through the exchange of opinions, the Committee had the opportunity to better understand the situation of women in Cyprus. She further encouraged the delegation to address the concerns expressed by the Committee Experts for the benefit of women and girls in Cyprus.